Label cutting and folding machine



May 8, 1934. e. A. PIEPENBRING ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 1.9, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1934.

G. A. PIEPENBRING ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 NS Nw mu A TTORNEYS.

y 1934- e. A. PIEPENBRING ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 g Y R b mfrromn y 8, 1934- G. A, PIEPENBRING El AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 8, 1934- G. A. PIEPENBRING ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 8, 1934. s. A. PIEPENBRlNG ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TORS May 8, 193 G. A. PIEPENBRING ET AL LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics LABEL CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE Application July 19, 1930, Serial No. 469,016

15 Claims.

Our invention relates to label cutting and folding machines and has for an object to provide means for cutting labels from a continuous strip, and folding over the cut edges of each label.

Our machine is particularly adapted for use in handling a continuous strip of fabric in which the label markings are woven or otherwise formed. One of the problems in operating on continuous label strips is that of feeding the strip in such manner that the severing of the strip will always take place midway between label markings. We prefer to use label strips of the type in which a floating thread or loop is provided between each label marking and the next adja- 15 cent marking and it is an object of our invention to provide improved feeding means which will pick up a floating thread and thereby feed the strip to the severing mechanism.

further object is to provide feeding means which will disengage the floating thread after feeding the strip a labels length and return to pick up the next subsequent floating thread.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the stroke of the feeding means to adapt the machine for labels of different length.

Another object of he invention is to provide improved severing means which will not impart a lateral thrust to the label strip.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved folding means for turning over the cut edges of a label.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for pressing and ironing the folded ends of a label.

Another object is to provide means for stopping the operation of the machine when the label strip is exhausted or whenever for any reason there is an interruption in the feed of labels to folding position.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment and thereafter the novelty and of our invention will be pointed out in the claims.

. In the accompanying drawings;

Figure l is a plan view of our improved label cutting and folding machine with a label hopper removed;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine as viewed from the right hand end of Figs. 1 and 2, certain parts being broken away and others shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view in section taken on 5 the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4a is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 4 showing certain parts in a different position;

Fig. 4b is a fragmentary View of a label strip showing floating threads or loops thereon;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of mechanism for cutting the labels;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective of the label folding means and a label folded thereby;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7 and showing the folding, pressing and ironing means;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in section of the label cutting means, the section being taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of an automatic contact device for stopping certain parts of the machine when there is an interruption in the feed of the label strip;

Fig. 12 is a fragmental plan view of a portion of the machine showing a modified form of mechanism for feeding the labels from the presser units into the hopper;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same looking from the right hand end of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position.

Our machine comprises a base plate 15 adapted to be supported on a bench 15a. Mounted on the base plate 15 is a table comprising a plate 16 supported on vertical posts 17. Above this table there is an upper table comprising a plate 18 supported on short posts 18a rising from the plate 16. The plate 16 extends from the left hand end of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1, to a point close to the middle of the machine, and there is an offset extension 16a of this plate which runs across the middle and fore part of the machine.

Rising from the rear portion of the base plate 15 are brackets 19 which provide bearings for a cam shaft 20. A worm wheel 21 is journaled on the shaft at the right hand end thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2. On the hub of the worm wheel are clutch teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of a clutch member 22 which is splined on the shaft 20. A means which will be described hereinafter, operates to hold the clutch member 22 normally in engagement with the teeth on the hub of the worm wheel 21 so that the worm wheel will turn the shaft 20. Below the shaft 20 and running at right angles thereto is a main drive shaft 23 provided with a worm 24 which meshes with the worm wheel 21 and by which the cam shaft is driven when the clutch is in normal engaging position. The main shaft 23 is provided with a pulley 25 at one end which is driven by means of belt 26 connected to any suitable source of power. At the forward end of the shaft 23 is another shaft 2'7 running at right angles thereto, the shafts 23 and 2'7 being operatively connected by a pair of miter gears 28. The shaft 27 serves to operate certain rollers which will be described hereinafter.

The tape 30 which is to be cut and folded in this machine is introduced into the machine from the left hand side, as viewed in Fig. 1, and is sup ported on the plate 18. As shown particularly in Fig. 4b the tape is provided with floating threads or loops 31 located between the label markings 32 formed on the tape. These floating threads provide means for advancing the tape to a severing mechanism. The tape is guided on the plate 18 between a pair of guide rails 33 which are clearly shown in Fig. 4a. A finger 35 is adapted to pick up a loop 31 and then to advance the tape toward the severing mechanism through a distance equal to the spacing between successive loops.

The finger 35 is mounted on the end of a shaft 36 which is slidable in bearing sleeves 3'7 and 38 journaled in brackets 39 secured to the plate 18. A feather in the sleeve 37 engages a key way in the shaft 36 so that rotation of the sleeve 37 will cause rotation of the shaft 36. The sleeve 37 is provided with a crank arm 40, the outer end of which is connected by a link 41 to an arm 42 fixed on a shaft 43. The latter is journaled in suitable brackets 44 and 45 supported by the base plate 15. The arm 42 carries a roller 46 which bears against the periphery of a cam wheel 4'7 fixed upon the shaft 20. A spring 48,

acting on the arm 42, serves to press the roller 46 against the cam, so that as the latter rotates, the finger 35 is oscillated to engage or disengage the loop 31. To provide clearance for the finger 35 as it wipes transversely across the tape 30, a recess 49 (Fig. 4a) is formed in the plate 18 under the line of travel of the tape 30.

Fixed on the shaft 36 is a collar 50 (Fig; 1) provided with an annular groove to receive the forked arms of a slide block 51. This slide block is adapted to slide on a rod 52 supported in the brackets 39. A pin 53 rising from the slide block 51 is engaged by the forked end of a lever arm 54. The lever is fulcrumed at 55 (Figs. 1 and 4) on a pin projecting from a bracket 56 supported on the plate 16 and has a rearwardly projecting arm 5'7 which is normally pulled by a spring 58, so as to hold the slide block 51 against an adjustable stop 59 carried by the left hand bracket 39. Also swiveled on the pin 55 is another lever having a rearwardly projecting arm 60 which carries a roller 61. A forwardly projecting arm of this lever carries an adjustable thumb screw 62 which is adapted to engage a lug 63 rising from the arm 54. The roller 61 is embraced between a pair of arms carried by a slide block 64 arranged to slide in suitable ways in the bracket 56. An arm 65 rigidly attached to the slide block 64 carries a roller 66 adapted to engage a groove in a drum cam 67 fixed upon the shaft 20.

The operation of the label feeding mechanism will now be understood. The shaft 36 being in retracted position with the slide block 51 bearing against the stop 59 and the finger 35 being in the retracted position shown in Fig. 4, the cam'4'7 operates to oscillate said finger, causing it to scrape across the surface of the tape 30 and en gage one of the loops 31, as shown in Fig. 4a. The cam 47 then holds the finger in engaging position, while the cam 6'7 slides the shaf 36 toward the right, advancing the tape 30. After the label has been advanced the requisite distance, the cam 4'7 operates to withdraw the finger and the cam 67 then returns the finger to its original position where it will be ready to pick up the next loop 31.

The pick-up finger 35, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, is extended in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tape so that when advanced it will carry the loop all the way to the severing mechanism and the finger must be withdrawn from the loop before the severing operation takes place. Obviously. the loops need not be centered between the label markings, but may be located to the rear of such central position, so that the finger need not be withdrawn from the loop prior to the severing operation. In cases where the spacing of the label lengths is fairly uniform, a ick-up may be employed which has no longitudinal extension and which will carry the loop to a point which is a labels length away from the severing mechanism. In such cases, it is not necessary to disengage the finger from the loop before th tape is severed. The tape is ordinarily stiff enough so that the part in advance of the finger will be guided without wrinkling or distortion by the guides 33.

The point at which the finger 35 picks up a loop may be adjusted by means of the stop screw 59, and the stroke of the shaft 36 may be adjusted very accurately for labels of different lengths by means of the thumb screw 62. Thus the label strip will be advanced a labels length at each rotation of the cam shaft, the labels length being determined by the spacing of the loops 31. Slight variations of spacing, due to irregularities of weave, will not have a cumulative effect, because the extent 'of feed of the strip at each stroke of the machine is gaged by the loops woven into the strip.

The severing mechanism is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 10. Mounted on the plate 16 is a bracket 63 which has an opening 69 therein through which the tape 30 passes. Projecting into this opening is a lower-fixed shear blade '70 which operates with an upper vertically-movable blade '71 to sever the tape 30. The blade '71 is formed with an arched cutting edge so that there will be no lateral thrust on the tape as it is being severed, but instead there will be a shearing action running from each edge of the tape toward the middle. The blade '71 slides in vertical ways '72 formed in the bracket 68 and is raised and lowered in timed relation to the operation of the label feeding mechanism. One arm of a bellcrank '73 fixed on a shaft 73a journaled in the bracket 68, has pin-and-slot connection with the blade 71, while the other arm is connected by a link 74 to an arm '75 fixed on a shaft '76. The latter is iournaled in brackets 45 and 45a carried by the base plate. An arm 7'7 fixed on the shaft '76 carries a roller '78 which en ages a groove in a cam 79 fixed on the cam shaft 20. Hence, as the cam 79 rotates with the cam shaft the blade 7]. will be raised and owered by engagement of the roller with the groove in said cam. In the particular embodiment of our invention illustrated in the drawings, the parts are so related that the tape projecting between the shear blades will be severed through a loop 31 immediately after the finger-35 has been withdrawn therefrom.

The portion of the tape which is projected through the opening enters between a pair of fingers and 81 each of which has a laterally projecting flange adapted to provide a broad bearing surface, as shown in Fig. 10. The lower finger 80 is capable of horizontal motion only, while the upper finger 81 may be raised and lowered and also moves horizontally with the lower finger. Removably secured to the lower finger 80 is a horizontal plate 80a of resilient metal which at each side edge is slightly turned upward, and removably secured to the upper finger 81 is a horizontal plate 81a of resilient metal which at each side edge is slightly turned downward, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The plate 80a has a greater rearward extension than the plate 81a and the latter is bent upward at the rear, as shown in Fig. 6. Secured to the upper face of the plate 81a is an angle piece 81?) whose vertical wall is flush with the forward edge of said plate.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6, the lower finger 80 is adjustably mounted on a bracket 82 which forms an extension of a slide block 83. The latter is slidable in ways 84 carried by the plate 16 and is connected by a link 85 to an arm 86 fulcrumed in the bracket 45. The arm 86 carries a roller 87 which engages a groove 88 formed in a cam 89 fixed on the shaft 20. By this means the lower finger 80 is reciprocated between the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 5 and that shown in Fig. 6.

The upper finger 81 is pivoted on a pin 90 carried by the bracket 82 and a rearwardly projecting portion of the finger is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 6, to engage a roller 91 carried by a slide bar 92. The bar 92 is slidable vertically in ways formed in the bracket 82 and at its lower end is provided with a roller 93 which engages a horizontally disposed slot 94 formed in a slide block 95. This slide block is adapted to slide vertically on a fixed plate 96 carried by the table plate 16. Immediately below the slot 94, the slide block is provided with another parallel slot 97 which is engaged by a roller 98 mounted on an arm 99. The latter is journalled on a stud 100 carried by a bracket 101 (rising from the base 15) A rearwardly extending arm 102, which is laterally offset from the arm 99 but fixed thereto, carries at its outer end a roller 103 which engages a groove 104 in a cam 105 fixed on cam shaft 20. By means of this cam the slide block 95 is raised and lowered, thereby raising the slide bar 92 and oscillating the finger 81 with respect to the finger 80, and at the same time both of the fingers are free to slide horizontally under control of the cam 89.

As the tape is being projected through the opening 69 the fingers are held in retracted position with the upper finger raised, as shown in Fig. 5, to admit the tape. As the cutter blade 71 descends, the finger 81 closes down, upon the pro jecting portion of the tape so that before a label is severed from the strip it will be clamped between the two plates 8011 and 81a. It will be understood that the plate 80a occupies a position slightly below the upper surface of the plate 18, as shown in Fig. 10, so that there will be no danger of having the end of the tape strike the edge of the plate 80a. Immediately after a label has been cut off, the fingers 80 and 81 advance toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, carrying the label gripped between them. Because of the curvature of the finger plates 80a and 81a the label will be gripped first by the side edges of said plates and as the grip is tightened the plates will flatten drawing the label taut between the gripping edges.

The cut ends of the label are passed through folding devices located respectively on opposite sides of the path of the fingers. The folding devices are best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Each folder is supported on a bracket 106 and comprises a member 107 formed with a spiral groove therein. The groove is widely flared at the entrance end thereof and at the exit and merges into a constricted horizontal groove defined by upper and lower spring fingers 108. Thus, as the label is carried by the fingers 80 and 81, the pro jecting ends of the label enter the folders and are curled over in the manner indicated in Fig. 8. A fiat guide 109 is adapted to bear against the upper face of each label end as it enters the folding groove and defines the edge of the fold. This strip is resiliently supported by a finger 110 secured to the bracket 106, said finger curving over the member 107 so as not to interfere with the entrance of the label therein. The rear end of the guide 109 is curved upward to admit the label thereunder. By the means just described, the opposite edges of the label are folded over to the form shown in Fig. 8.

Immediately beyond the folders, the folded ends of the label are creased by a pair of vibrating hammers. Mounted in a bracket 111 below the plate 16a is a transverse shaft 112. This shaft is formed with a pair of eccentrics 113, each of which operates in a frame 114 fitted on the end of a rod or hammer 115. Each hammer rod slides vertically in a bearing formed in a bracket 116. F'rxed on a suitable support immediately above each hammer rod 115 is an adjustable anvil 117, against which the hammer strikes as it is re ciprocatecl by its eccentric 113. The hammers are so positioned as to engage and crease the folded opposite edges of the label as the latter is carried forward by the fingers 80 and 81.

Mounted at each side of the path of the label immediately beyond the hammer is a pressing unit, as shown in Fig. 7. Each pressing unit comprises a bracket 118 mounted on the plate 16a and formed with a shoulder or anvil 119 to support the adjacent folded edge of the label. Mounted to slide vertically on each bracket 118 is a member 120 in which are fitted a pair of electric heating units 121. Each member 120 has an overhanging shoulder 122 adapted to bear upon the anvil 119 when the member 120 is lowered. A spring 123 urges the member 120 downward but the latter is held in raised position, to admit the folded label edge between shoulder 122 and anvil 119, by an arm 124 acting on a roller 125 carried by the member 120. The arms 124 are secured to a transverse shaft 126. This shaft, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with crank arm 127 which is connected by a link 128 to an arm 129 pivotally mounted on a shaft 130 journaled in brackets 131 and 132. A roller 133 on the arm 129 engages a groove in a cam 134 fixed on the shaft 20. The parts are so arranged that as the label is fed forward to the position shown in Fig. 6 the arms 124 will be swung downward, permitting the heating units to descend under the pull of springs 123, pressing the folded edges of the label between the shoulders 122 and anvils 119.

Immediately after the label has been gripped between the shoulders 122 and anvils 119, the fingers 80 and 81 separate and return into posithe rollers is best shown in Fig. 3.

by gravity back toward the machine.

the plate 142.

tion to receive another label. The rearward extension of the plate a and the upward bend of the rear end of plate 81a permit the label strip to move through the opening 69 in the severing mechanism, while the fingers are returning and opening. On the next advance of the fingers the pressing units open, releasing the label gripped therein, and said label is then pushed into engagement with a set of feed rollers by contact--. ing with the forward edges of the closed and advancing fingers. The angle piece 81b prevents the label from riding up and on the upper finger plate 81a.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the feed rollers above referred to consist of a lower roller and a pair of upper rollers 136, the latter being so positioned as to engage the folded edges of the label. The rollers feed the label into a hopper. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the shaft 27 is connected by a suitable train of spur gears to the shaft 112 which operates the vibrating hammer and also to the lower roller 135 and the shaft 137 which carries the upper rollers 136.

The hopper into which the labels are fed from This hopper is supported on a pedestal 140 rising from the base plate 15. The hopper consists of a trough-shaped member 141 which is mounted at an angle such that the labels supported therein will tend to slide Within the trough-shaped member is a supporting plate 142 adjustably mounted on pins 143, only one of which is shown in the drawings. The labels 144 are stacked in the trough-member 141 and rest upon A weight 145 bears against the outer end of the stack of labels. At the lower or rear end of the hopper there is a comb 146 comprising a series of spring fingers rising from the trough 141. The plate 142 and the bottom of the trough are formed with slots which are alined with the spaces between the fingers of the comb. A stacker operates in the hopper and comprises a plurality of fingers 147 mounted on the end of an arm 148. These fingers 147 are adapted to pass between the fingers of the comb 146 and through the slots in the trough 141 and the plate 142. The stacker holds the stack of labels 144 clear of the comb 146 to admit a new label into the stack after which the stacker fingers 147 move downwardly clear of the stack of labels, permitting the latter to slide back against the new label admitted into the hopper. Thereafter the stacker is withdrawn and then raised back of the comb 146, after which it is forced forward, advancing the stack with the new label to the position shown in Fig. 8.

The stacker fingers pursue a substantially rectangular orbit and to produce this motion, the following mechanism is provided: The stacker arm 148 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 150 which is journaled in the upper end of a pair of links 152. The latter are secured at their lower ends on a shaft 153 journaled in a bracket 154. Similarly two links 155 are secured to a shaft 156 journaled in the bracket 157 and the upper ends of these links are pivotally connected to a shaft 158. Links 159 connect the shafts 150 and 158. The arm 148 is provided with an upward extension 160 which is connected by a link 161 to an arm 162 fixed on the shaft 158.

It will be observed that the mechanism so far described provides a double parallel movement; By oscillating the links 152 and 155 on their pivots, the arm 148 will be moved substantially horizontally and by oscillating the shaft 158 the arm 148 may be oscillated about its pivot 150.

These two movements are controlled by a pair of cams 163 and 164. The cam 163 is provided with a groove in one face thereof which is engaged by a roller 165. This roller is mounted on the end of a rod 166 which is mounted to slide in inclined ways 167 carried by a bracket 168. The rod 166 has a pin 169 pivotally mounted thereon and a projecting portion of this pin is transversely slotted to receive a rod 170 projecting from a crank arm 171 fixed upon the shaft 158. Thus, as the rod 166 is moved in its ways by action of the cam 163, the shaft 158 will be oscillated giving angular movement to the arm 148. The cam 164 is formed in one face with a groove 172 which is engaged by a roller 173. This roller is mounted on one arm of a lever 174 journaled on a bracket 175. The other arm of the lever is connected by a link 176 to the shaft 158, and as the lever 174 is oscillated by the cam 164 the links 152 and 155 will be oscillated on their bearings, causing the arm 148 to pursue a substantially horizontal motion. By the combined action of the cams 163 and 164, the requisite motion is given to the stacker fingers 147 whereby they are periodically drawn downwardly out of engagement with the stack 144, moved rearward and then raised back of the comb 146 and finally forced forward to move the stack 144 forward sufliciently to provide clearance for the next label which is to be dropped into the hopper.

A safety device is provided for stopping the rotation of the cam shaft in case of any failure in the feed of tape to the severing mechanism, or when the supply of tape is exhausted. The safety mechanism .is illustrated particularly in Fig. 11. As the label strip is fed through the severing mechanism and between the finger plates 80a and 81a, the forward end of the strip is projected over a contact plate 179 supported on a post 179a (Fig. 10) rising from the plate 16a.

The plate 179 is electrically insulated from said post. A caster 180 is adapted to engage this plate and the stem 181 of the caster is carried by an arm 182; The latter is pivoted on the shaft 73a which carries the bell-crank that operates the cutter plate 71. Rising from the arm 182 is a bifurcated arm 183 which embraces a rod 184 fixed to the bell crank lever 73, so that as said bell crank lever is operated to raise and lower the cutting blade 71, the arm 182 and the caster 180 are also raised and lowered. The stem 181 has limited sliding movement in the arm 182, but is normally pressed downward by a contact spring 185 carried by the arm 182 so as to provide a yielding contact of the caster with the plate 179.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the feeding mechanism is operating properly, the tape is projected across the plate 179, while the cutter blade 71 and the caster 180 are in raised position. Then, as the cutter blade moves downward, the caster roller is electrically insulated from the plate 179 by the intervening tape. If there should be no tape on the plate 179, when the caster comes down the plate 179 will be grounded to the caster thereby energizing a magnet 198 which throws out the clutch connecting the cam shaft 20 and worm wheel 21, and stopping the cam shaft.

The clutch operating mechanism comprises a clutch lever 186 (Figs. 1 and 2) fixed on the outer end of a vertical shaft 187 journaled in a gear box 188 enclosing the clutch members and gearing connecting shafts 20 and 28. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 187 is a crank arm 189 which bears a roller engaging an annular groove 190 formed in the clutch member 22. A spring 191 acting on the lever 186 tends to pull the lever toward the right as viewed in Fig. 2, withdrawing the clutch member 22 from engagement with the hub of the worm gear 21. The clutch, however, is held in engaging position by a boss 192 formed on a latch 193 which engages a lug 194 projecting from the under surface of the lever 186. This latch is pivoted on a pin 195 fixed in a frame 199 supported on a post 200 and is normally held in raised position by a spring 196. The boss 192 and the end of the lug 193 are V-shaped so that the latter may be snapped past the boss in either direction when sufficient lateral pressure is applied to the lever 186. The latch 193 is provided with an extension 197 which serves as an armature for the magnet 198. One terminal of this magnet is grounded and the other is connected through a source of electrical energy and to the contact plate 179, so that whenever the latter is grounded by contact with caster 180 the circuit of the magnet is closed. When the magnet 198 is energized, it withdraws the latch 192 from engagement with the lug 194 and permits the spring 191 to disengage the clutch. The operator of the machine may reengage the clutch merely by swinging the lever 186 back to normal position, so that the lug 194 snaps over the boss 192. A button switch 201 in the circuit of the magnet may be depressed to energize the magnet whenever the operator wishes to stop the cam shaft.

Provision is made for adjusting the machine to handle labels of diiferent length. For this reason, the bracket 106 which carries the folder on the right hand side of the machine, as viewed from the front, is adjustable in ways, as is also the post 199a which carries the contact plate 179. The arm 183 is adjustable along the shaft 73a, being fixed between collars 188a secured by set screws to said shaft. Similarly, the vibrating hammer on the right hand side of the machine is adjustable along the shaft 112 and it will be understood that the eccentric 113 is wide enough, as measured along the shaft 112, to accommodate the extreme range of labels for which the machine is adapted. The bracket 118 at the right hand side of the machine, instead of being fixed to the plate 16a, is adjustable in. slots along said plate, so that the pressing units may be spread apart to the proper distance to accommodate the particular length of label for which the machine is adjusted. The arm 124 on the right hand side of the machine is secured to the shaft 126 by a set screw, so that it may be adjusted for variations in position of the pressing unit on that side of the machine; also the roller 136 on the right hand side of the machine is adjustable along the shaft 137 for labels of dilferent length. It will be recalled that the finger plates a and 81a are removably secured to the fingers 80 and 81 respectively and may be replaced with others of different width for labels of different lengths.

In Figs. 12 and 14, we show a modified form of mechanism for feeding the labels from the presser units into the hopper. This mechanism does away with the feeding rollers 135 and 136 and with the gearing for operating said rollers.

As shown clearly in the drawings, each of the presser units carries a guide member consisting of a sector-shaped plate 210 secured to the fixed part 18 of the presser unit, each plate 210 being formed near its periphery with a pair of arcuate flanges 21-1 forming a guide slot therebetween. The mouth of this guide slot is flared as best shown at 212 in Fig. 14 and is aligned with the space between the anvil 119 and the movable member 120 of the presser unit. The folded edges of the labels enter the guide grooves being pushed therein by the fingers 80a and 81a as they advance to bring a succeeding label into pressing position.

The labels are pushed out of the arcuate guides by a pair of sweeps 218 which are fixed on a shaft 214 journaled in a pair of arms 215. The latter pass under the plate extension 16a and are fixed upon a shaft 216 journaled in bearings 217 depending from said plate extension. A crank arm 218 fixed to the shaft 216 is connected by a link 21.9 to a crank 220 depending from and secured to a shaft 126. The arrangement is such that when the shaft 126 is turned by a pull on the link 128 to raise the presser members 120, the shaft 216 will be rotated sufiiciently to lower the sweeps below the label in the guide grooves. It will be observed that the arm 220 is much shorter than the arm 218 and consequently the vertical movement of the shaft 214 which carries the sweeps is less than that of the presser bars 120. In order to swing the sweeps 213 on their axis a crank 225 is secured to the shaft 214 and is connected by a link 226 to a crank 227 journaled upon the shaft 216. Another link 228 extends from the crank 227 to an arm 229 at the rear of the machine. In place of the bracket 131 for supporting the shaft 130, we provide a slightly difierent form of bracket 181a and the latter provides a bearing for the arm 229. A roller 230 mounted on the arm 229 is adapted to run in a cam groove formed in a cam wheel 231 mounted on the cam shaft 20. Rotation of the cam 231 reciprocates the link 228, producing oscillatory movement of the sweeps 213, but the axis of these sweeps is raised and lowered by the cam 134 which reciprocates the link 128 and oscillates the shaft 126. The cams 134 and 231 are so relatively timed that during their forward movement the l sweeps are raised and sweep the label through the guide grooves, while on the return movement the sweeps pass below said grooves.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

When a label is being advanced into the pressing q position with the folded edges between anvil 119 and presser members 120, a preceding label will be forced out by the advancing fingers into the guide grooves formed between flanges 211, the bar 8117 serving to prevent said preceding label from riding up over the fingers. The parts then occupy the position shown in Fig. 14 and when the presser members 120 are lowered by the springs 123 under control of the cam 134, the shaft 216 is oscillated by the linkage connecting said shaft and the shaft 126, raising the arms 215 to the position shown in Fig. 15. By this means, the sweeps 213 are raised back of the label in the guide grooves. Thereupon the cam 231 operates to pull the link 228 and, through the a crank 227, link 226 and crank 225, to oscillate the sweeps, forcing the label along the guide and into the hopper 141. Thereupon the presser members 120 are raised by the cam 134, lowering the shaft 214 and the cam 231 then operates to oscillate the sweeps back to the position shown in Fig. 14.

The operation of feeding the labels from the presser unit into the hopper is timed to the operation of the stacker arm 148, so that the labels move out of the guide grooves into the hopper back of the stacker fingers 147 which are then removed in the manner described above and later advanced to force said label forward into the stack and provide clearance for the next label.

It will be noted that the arcuate guides are carried by the presser units and since one of these units is adjustable toward and from the other in order to provide for labels of a different length, the sweeps 23 are adjustable on the shaft 214 being secured thereto by set screws 213a, so that the sweeps will always operate close to the arcuate guides.

It will be understood that the the machine and modification described above are to be taken as illustrative and not as limitative of our invention, and that we reserve the right to make such variations in construction, arrangement of parts, and mode of operation as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for cutting labels from a tape, a cutter, means for feeding the tape to the cutter, means for operating the cutter to cut off a label from the tape, a pair of fingers, means for closing the fingers on said label, said fingers including oppositely curved flexible blades whose edges are adapted to engage and spread the label endwise when the fingers are closed, means for moving the fingers to advance the label laterally, and means for folding the cut edges of the label as the label is advanced by the finger.

2. In a machine for cutting labels from a tape, a cutter, means for feeding the tape to the cutter, means for operating the cutter to cut off a label from the tape, a pair of fingers, means for closing the fingers on said label, said fingers including oppositely curved flexible blades whose edges are adapted to engage and spread the label endwise when the fingers are closed, means for moving the fingers to advance the label laterally, means for folding the cut edges of the label as the label is advanced by the fingers, means for creasing the folded edges, and means for opening and withdrawing the fingers.

3. In a machine for cutting labels from a tape, means for cutting off a label from the tape, means for folding and creasing the cut edges of the label, and means for feeding the label to the folding and creasing means, said feeding means comprising a pair of fingers including oppositely curved flexible blades whose edges are adapted to engage and spread the label endwise when the fingers are closed, and means for opening the fingers after the label has been fed into the creasing means.

4. In a machine for cutting labels from a tape, means for cutting off a label from the tape, means for folding and creasing the out edges of the label, reciprocating means for feeding the label from the cutting means to the folding and creasing means, said feeding means comprising a pair of fingers adapted to grip the label on the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, and a lug on one of the fingers adapted on the forward stroke thereof to push out a preceding label from the creasing means.

5. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding a cut edge of the label as it is advanced, and a vibrating hammer for creasing the folded edge.

6. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding a cut edge of the label as it is advanced, a press, means for operating the press in timed relation to the feeding means for creasing the folded edge.

7. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding a cut edge of the label as it is advanced, a press, means for operating the press in timed relation to the feeding means for creasing the folded edge, and means for heating said press.

8. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, reciprocating means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding the cut edges of the label as it is advanced, a pair of presses operable in timed relation to the label feeding means to crease the folded edges respectively, a hopper, a guide leading from the pressers to the hopper, the label advancing means being adapted to force a preceding label out of the presses into the guide, and means for sweeping the label out of the guide into the hopper.

9. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, reciprocating means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding the cut edges of the label as it is advanced, a pair of presses, means for operating the presses in timed relation to the label-advancing means to press the folded edges respectively, and means for adjusting the spacing of the presses and of the folding means for labels of different length.

10. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, means for advancing the label laterally, means for folding the out edges of a label as it is advanced, a pair of vibrating hammers for creasing the folded edges respectively, and a pair of presses operable in timed relation to the label-advancing means to press the folded edges respectively.

11. In a label cutting and folding machine, means for cutting off a label from a continuous run of tape, means for advancing the label lateral- 1y, a means for folding the cut edges of a label as it is advanced, a pair of vibrating hammers for creasing the folded edges respectively, a pair of presses operable in timed relation to the labeladvancing means for pressing the folded edges respectively', and means for adjusting the spacing of the folding means and of the vibrating hammer and of the presses for labels of different length.

12. In a label cutting and folding machine, a pair of presses, means for advancing a label into the presses, means for folding the ends of the label as it is advanced, means for operating the presses to crease the folded ends, a hopper, a pair of arcuate guides into which the label is advanced by a subsequent operation of the label-advancing means, a sweep mounted to oscillate, means for raising the sweep back of the label and oscillating the same to sweep the label out of the guides into the hopper, and means for thereafter lowering the sweep and returning the same to mutual position.

13. In a label cutting and folding machine, a pair of presses adapted to crease the ends of a label, a hopper, a pair of arcuate guides, means for feeding a label from the presses into the arcuate guides, a sweep adapted to sweep the label from the guide into the hopper, means for oscillating the sweep in timed relation to the operation of the presses, and means for raising and lowering the axis of oscillation of the sweep whereby the sweep will be raised during the advance stroke thereof to engage the label and will be lowered during the return stroke.

14. In a label cutting and folding machine, a pair or" presses adapted to crease the ends of a label, a hopper, a pair of arcuate guides, means for feeding a label from the presses into the arcuate guides, a sweep adapted to sweep the label from the guide into the hopper, means for oscillating the sweep timed relation to the operation of the presses, and means for raising the sweep into operative engagement with the label prior to the advance stroke thereof and for lowering the sweep thereafter to clear a subsequent label introduced into the guides.

15. In a label cutting and folding machine, a pair of presses adapted to crease the ends of a label, a hopper, a pair of arcuate guides fixed to the presses, means for adjusting one press toward the other, means for feeding a label from the presses into the arcuate guides, a pair of sweeps adjacent the guides and adjustable thereto, means for oscillating the sweeps in timed relation to the label feeding means to advance the label from the guides into the hopper, means for raising the sweeps between said label and the presses prior to the advance stroke of the sweeps, and means for lowering the sweeps during the return stroke thereof.

GUSTAVE A. PIEPENBRING.

WERNER BEUTEL. 

